Great Websites

• Adventure Korea - Tourism in Korea
• Visit Korea - Korea's tourism website
• Suggested Itineraries for Traveling in Korea - a variety hitting the major destinations in Korea
• Wikitravel South Korea - for Seoul and beyond
• Discount Airlines in Korea - for getting to Jeju, Busan

Tour Companies

• Adventure Koreadoes a variety of day and overnight trips almost every weekend throughout all parts of Korea. The crowd is mostly "hagwoners" but there are always some international travelers as well.
  • To sign up, click the "sign up" link on the website. After signing up, you have a set amount of time (24, 48hrs?) to pay for the trip via bank transfer. After transferring, send an email to confirm your reservation and payment.
  • Most 'adventures' have been good, but some KISers have brought home good reviews about the "caving and ferry riding," "ice festival," and other trips.

Day Trips

• Heyri Art Valleyis an interesting community 1 hour north of Seoul (close to DPRK) where 370ish artists live/work. Despite the travel, it is a great place to spend a relaxing Saturday or Sunday enjoying art, walking around, listening to music, and sitting in one of the many unique coffee shops.
  • Getting to Heyri:
    • Take bus 2200 from Hapjeong Station (Line 2) Exit #2. Get off @ Heyri Art Valley. This part of the trip takes 50 min.
    • ***Coming from Bundang, it is nice to eat a brunch or early lunch in Itaewon and then take the subway 8 stops to Hapjeong to break up the trip a bit. (Hapjeong Station is quite the labyrinth...about 7-8 mins of walking to exit 2!)
      
      
  • Once there, get a map @ the info/ticket booth near Gate 4, or, better yet, just explore the area on your own!
  • Most galleries are open from 10am to 7pm
  • More info can be found in the April 2010 Seoul Magazine.
  • Some highlights:
    • from KISers: the musicians @ the Toulouse Latrec Coffee Shop who perform every Sat/Sun from 3pm-6pm
    • from a magazine: Keumsan Gallery, Total Art Space Book House ("it's particularly beautiful in the evening."
    • Near Heyri: Paju Book City: "a collection of Korean publishing houses--is an outdoor exhibit of cutting-edge architecture and design...bus 2200 passes through it on the way to Heyri.". Also, Odusan Unification Observatory.

Overnight Trips

• KHRC is a website to get good rates on hotels in Korea, Japan, and China.
• Gyeongju is the ancient capital of Seoul. There is much to do in and around Gyeongju. Hiking, historical sites, and more abound. It's ideal to go in Sep-Oct or Apr-Jun so one can enjoy Anapji Pond by Night, perhaps the highlight of visiting. If going at night, bring a bottle of wine and prepare to leisurely take in the sights from the opposite side of the pond.